Cushion-tire for vehicles.



No. 627,5". Patented lune 27, |899.

` A. LEHMANN, SR.

CUSHION TIRE FDR VEHICLES.

(Application led Dec. 9, 189B.)

' (No Model.)

W 'Tljcsses 1H: mums PETERS 00,. PuoToLlYNo., WASHINGTON. u. c,

,NTTED- STATES PATENT CE1-TCE.

AUGUST LEHMANN, sa., oE oI-ncAeo, ILLINOIS, AssI'eNoE on ONE-HALE ToFEED. BosE, 0E sAME PLACE.

`CUSHION-TIRE FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,511, dated J une27', 1899. Application iiled December 9, 1898. Serial No. 698,755. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, AUGUST LEHMANN, Sr., a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState'of Illinois,haveinven ted anew and useful Cushion- Tire for Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to tires for bicycles or other light vehicles;and it has for its `ob ject to provide a tirerfor this purpose havingthe requisite degree of elasticityv to cushion the shock incident to thetranjel of the vehicle, While at 'the same time havin g exceptionalstrength and lightness.

To this end the invention primarily contemplatesY a cushion-tiredesigned 4for use within a suitable covering and so constructed as topossess every advantage of the ordinary pneumatic tires, while at thesame time possessing the additional advantage over such tires of beingnon-collapsible when punctured. In other words, it is the object of theinvention to produce a non-.inflatable cushion-tire which shall obviateall the objections to a pneumatic tire, while fully carrying out orattaining every function thereof.

With these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible to moditicatiom'still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings', inwhichFigure l is a side Viewl ofa cushion-tire constructed in accordance withthe present invention, showing the same fitted to the rim of abicycle-wheel and also showing a portion of its exterior coveringremoved.V Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of thetire with the covering removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view exposing anumber of the weftribs. Fig. 4 is a side view of the construction shownin Fig. 3. gitudinal sectional view of a portion of the tire. Fig. 6 isa cross-sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailsectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail inperspective of one of the duplex weft- Fig. 5 is a detail lonlow body ortube, which in the present invention is made entirely of woven reeds,thereby producing a tubular woven-reed fabricas the -body structure ofthe tire, such reed fabric being exceedingly light anddurable, while atthe same time possessing sufticient elasticity to give an ample cushioneffect similar to the cushion effect of ordinary rubber cushion orpneumatic tires.

l-n constrnctin g the tubular reed tire 1 there is employed at the sideof the tire next to the rim 2, in which it lits, a pair of circularsuperposed reed base-bands 3, which are of slightlydifferentdiameters,so as to register one within the other in concentric relation,and these reed basebands' are firmly bound together by means of acontinuous wrapping of a cane or equivalent tying-strip 4, said canetyingstrip '4 encircling both of the base-bands 3 and being wrappedspirally about the same throughout'their entire circumference. The reedbase-bands 3, which are bound together by the tying-strip 4, practicallyform a clamp for binding therebetween the circumferential ser-ies ofspaced weft-ribs 5, `each of which ribs is preferably. formed of a pairof reeds arranged side byV side, and may therefore be properly termed aduplex weft-rib. The said duplex weft-ribs 5 are spaced at regulardistances apart and are arranged transversely of the base-bands 3,between which they are clamped, said weft-ribs .being bent from oppositesides of the base-bands into a substantially circular shape to producethe crosssectional circular shape of the complete tire. The oppositeportions of the weft-ribs 5 are disalined, whereby the terminals of saidribs will be arranged at one side of each other and in different planesbetween the pair of circular tread-bands 6. The circular tread-bands 6are also formed of continuous strips of reed and, like the base-bands 4,are of slightly different diameters, whereby the same will register onewithin the other` in concentric relation; but both of the tread-bandsare of a materially larger diameter than the base-bands,

IOO

so as to be spaced a material distance therefrom to permit of the bodyof the tire having a free elastic action. The pair of reed tread-bands Gare also iirmlybound together by lneans of a continuous wrapping of acane or equivalent tying-strip 7, which encircles both of the bands Gand is' wrapped spirally about the same throughout their entirecircumference.

The spaced concentric bands 3 and (i rigidly hold in position thecircumferentialseries of weft-ribs 5, which together form a skeletonweft or rib framework for the twisted body or Warp strands S, which areinterwoven with the weft-ribs at both sides of the concentric bands 3and C. The body or warp strands S are closely arranged side by side toproduce a close-woven fabric and entirely cover up the skeletonstructure of the tire, and each of said strands S consists of aplurality of single stems 9, plaited together and interlaced or wovenaround the weft-ribs 5, whereby the strands and weft-ribs are firmlyinterlocked into a compact-woven body or fabric which constitutes themain portion of the elastic body of the tire.

The twisted bod y or warp strands 8 extend continuously andeircumferentially around the entire body of the tire, and at this pointit is to be observed that by reason of the disalinementof the oppositeportions of the weftribs 5 the body or warp strands, respectively, atopposite sides of the bands 3 and G alternately engage with the ribs andthereby brace the entire structure, and it is also important in themanufacture of the tire that the reed fabric at one side of the centerof the tire be woven in an opposite direction to that at the oppositeside of the center of the tire, thus insuring the tire retaining itsshape under all conditions.

The complete tire when in use is provided with an exteriorcoverin g10,01? rubber,leather, canvas, or any other material suitable for thepurpose; but it will of course be understood that any suitable form ofprotective covering may be employed in connection with the tire and maybe secured thereon in any suitable manner without affecting the spiritor scope of the invention.

Changes in the form, proportion,'and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A vehicle-tire, consisting of a tubular body having a circumferentialseries of approximately circular weft-ribs, and circumferentialwarp-strands interwoven therewith and a base and tread band cachcomprising concentric elements lying on opposite sides of the adjacentribs, the elements of each hand having mutual connections, substantiallyas set forth.

2. A vehicletire consisting of a tubular body made of reeds andcomprising a central tread-band,and woven reed fabric at each side ofsaid tread-band, substantially as set forth.

3. A vehicletire consisting of a tubular body made of reeds andcomprising a central tread-band, and woven reed fabric at each side ofsaid tread-band, the fabric at opposite sides of the tread-band beingrespectively woven in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

4. A vehicle-tire consisting of concentric pairs of spaced reed base andtread bands respectively, cane tying-strips encircling and bindingtogether, separat-ely, the pair of bascbands and the pair oftread-bands, approximately circular weft ribs disposed transversely ofthe two pairs of bands and clamped therebetween, and continuous body orWarp strands interwoven with the weft-ribs at each side of the plane ofthe base and tread bands, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my'own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST LEHMANN, SR.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT HAHN, AUGUST LEHMANN, Jr.

